Spiral baffle



Nov. 15, 1927.

M. F. WATERS SPIRAL BAFFLE Filed Sept. 50. 1925 Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

G UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE;

MILLARD F. WATERS, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR T0 SMITH SEPARATOR COM- PANY, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

SPIRAL IBAFIELE.

Application fil ed September 30, 1925. Serial No. 59,720.

My invention consists in new and useful improvements in oil and gas separators, and relates particularly to gas outletbafiies for separating the outgoing gas from any particles of liquid. which may'have passed the main separator battles or scrubbing means.

It is the object of my invention to provide a spiral battle in the gas outlet pipe which will cause the gas to assume a whirling motion while passing through said pipe, thereby causing any particles of liquid contained in said gas, to be deposited on the walls of the pipe, where they will descend by gravity into a spiral troughand be conveyed to the bottom of the separator tank.

With the above and'other objects in view which will appear asthe description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughoutthe several views,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a separator tank showing my improved spiral baffle.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the spiral trough or cup.

1n therdrawings, 1 designates an oil and gas separator tank of the usual construction provided with an oil and gas inlet 2, and bees 3, which may be of any type, those shown in Fig. 1 of the'drawings, being of similar design to those disclosed in my former Patent No. 1,511,854, dated October 14, 1924:. i

4 represents a pipe for conveying any oil or other liquid which may have risen with the gas, back to the bottom of the tank, and 5 is the usual oil outlet.

The gas outlet and spiral baffle form the main part of this invention, and consist in an outlet pipe 6, extending within the tank 1, from a point slightly below the top thereof. substantially to the lower extremity of the same, where it terminates in an L 6 which projects through the wall of the tank. As shown in the drawings, the pipe 6 is of two different diameters, but this is not necessary. The pipe may be the same diameter throughout.

Within the pipe 6, starting at the upper extremity, is aspiral bafile 7 of smaller dimension than the inside diameter of the pipe 6, and spaced apart from the walls of said pipe by a plurality of vertically extending rods 8. This baflle 7 is supported by a center rod 7, and extends approximately for onehalf the length of the pipe 6, and is reduced at its lower end to register with the inside wall of a spiral trough 9, shown in detail in Fig. 3.

The inner wall ofthe trough 9 is welded to the last turn of the baiile 7 which continues to the end of the trough while the outer wall is welded to the inner wall of the pipe 6. From the edge of the pipe 6 to the center of the spiral bailie, the trough turns at right angles as shown at 10, which protects the outer edge of the entire last turn of the spiral battle. In the lower outside 'wall of the trough 9, I provide an aperture 11, which registers with an aperture 12 in the pipe 6, opening into a downwardly extending pipe 13 on the outside of thepi e 6, which terminates in the lower portion 0 the tank. The pipe 13 is provided with avertical check valve 14 which may be located at any desirable point therein.

The operation of my device is as follows:

The oil and gas enter as usual through the inlet 2 the-greater part or the oil falling to the bottom of the tank and the gas rising to the top. It is obvious, however, that the rising gas will carry with it a quantity of the lighter liquid hydrocarbons the, greater portion of which will be separated therefrom by the conical or other battles 3, which allow the gas to pass to the top of the tank.

The gas is then forced down through the outlet pipe 6 where it is given a whirling motion by the spiral bafile 7.- This tends to throw any remaining particles of liquid to the edges of the baflie and on the inner walls of the 'pipe 6 by centrifugal force from whence said liquids will descend by gravity due to the space between the walls of the pipe and the bafiie 7.

The gas will be in such volume that it will continue to follow the spiral ballie all the way down, at each turn, more liquid or solid substance being separated from the will not enter, but due to its whirling motion will continue t0.'fOll0W the .baflle down to the end. At this point the trough 9 also ends-and turns back at right followed the bafiie down, it drops into this narrow deeptrough at 10, and the gas passes on out throu h the L 6' in the pipe 6.

The liqui in the trou h 9 1 flows out through the aperture 11 this being" the lowest pomt in the trough, in the pl 13 and gown to the bottom of the nk, w ere it is rawn of in the usual manner.

The lower end of thepipe 13 issubmerged in oil, as a certain depth of oil is maintained in the tank at all times, which provides an oil seal over the end of said pipe.

The check valve 14 will only function if for any reason the oil outlet on the separator does not 0 en and the tank should partially fill up, w en the said valve will prevent the oil from backing up in the pipe 13 and trou h 9. i

From t e foregoing it is believed that my invention'may be clearly understood without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, as

isclosed in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An oil and gas separator comprising a tank, an oil and gas inlet in said tank an bafoil outlet a gas'outlet conduit, a spiral d conduit spaced a art from the inner walls thereof, a spira trough at the lower extremity of said baiile adapted to receive oil'particles separated by said baflle,

an outlet in said trough connected with a I downwardly extending p e for conveying liquids to the bottom of said tank. a

2. An oil and gas separator comprising a tank, an oil and gas inlet in said tank, an 1 oil outlet, a vertically extending gas outlet conduit within said tank, the lower end ofwhich projects through the side wall of said tank, a spiral baflle within said conduit spaced apart from the inner wallsthereof by vertically extending rods, a spiral.

trough having itsinner walls secured to the last turn of the spiral baflie and its outer walls secured to the inner walls of the conthe inner walls of said conduit, means at the lowerextremity of said bafile for receiving liquid particles separated by said bafile, and means for conveying the same to the bottom of said tank.

In testimony whereof I aflix my sign .ture.

MILLARD F.- WATERS. 

